With 42 tribes in Kenya, defining a specific leisure as ‘traditional’ is almost unattainable without going into an excessive treatise on the subject. Each tribe has music, dance, costumes and musical instruments particular to their area. This article provides a short overview of the types of entertainment, some examples from various tribes and the place yow will discover traditional leisure whenever you come to Kenya.
Song is a form of traditional entertainment virtually globally so it is no shock to find Kenyan tribes also singing. Every of the 42 tribes has their own language, so it is easy to tell where the track is from… as long as you’ll be able to recognise the language! Across the tribes one thing is the same: there are totally different beats and words for songs related with the varied ceremonies. This implies that when a Kikuyu returns to his village and hears singing he can tell what is happening. It does not imply however that if a Taita goes to the Kikuyu village he will also be able to tell what is going on, unless he understands Kikuyu. So every tribe has circumcision songs, party songs, marriage ceremony songs, funeral songs, new baby songs and so on.
Alongside with singing comes dancing and, again, movements differ throughout the tribes. Kikuyus wear bells on their ankles with women and men pairing up, placing palms collectively and swaying. In Luhya tradition, the dance is all in regards to the shoulders and for Luos it’s in regards to the hips. The Maasai males bounce and it is a show of manliness if they’ll leap higher than their peers.
Dance is complemented by the traditional costumes which are made from materials present in a tribe’s area. Luo men wear grass skirts from the reeds by Lake Victoria and cow hide on their back. Towards the coast, Taita males wear kangas from the Swahili tradition while the women wear grass skirts. Within the central highlands, the Kikuyus’ costumes are a bit more substantial to protect towards the cold, with sheepskin hats confusing many travellers as they look similar to the typical Russian hats! The lads typically wear white and the ladies a brown-beige colour. Kikuyu males additionally carry swords and have a belt made of animal skin to carry the sword.
Musical instruments often accompany the singing and dancing and most people are acquainted with the African drum. But there are even variations in how the drum is used across Kenya. For instance, the Kamba sit with the drum between their legs while the Luhya hold the drum under their arm. Kamba additionally use a whistle to signify a beat change.
Story-telling is common with the old males teaching lessons by way of stories to the young boys. Nowadays comedy is turning into standard, with sketches carried out between music sets. The tales and sketches are often set in on a regular basis situations that Kenyans can simply relate to.
Bomas of Kenya put on a prolonged efficiency each afternoon which showcases singing, dancing, costumes and musical instruments from each of the tribes. Shade Hotel in Karen also does a more casual afternoon of traditional leisure every Sunday and on public holidays. Should you visit a Maasai village in your safari, the villagers will perform a welcome dance for you. The Samburu villages do the same in northern Kenya. Finally, the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is perhaps the best opportunity to see a wide range of traditional entertainment. A gathering of 14 tribes from northern Kenya, this Festival is a celebration of various cultures residing together. They sing, they dance, they build huts, they cook, they dress traditionally – it’s fantastic! It’s held every Might in Loiyangalani on the shore of Lake Turkana and well definitely worth the journey.
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